Since the second phase of Chi Lam Vai’s ancient well cleanup project started on November 4, 300 of lorryloads of construction waste have been removed from the ancient well, Tang Kam Chun, a resident of the old village and vice-president of the Na Tcha Temple Association, told the Post yesterday.
Standing next to the well, Tang also said that one can now finally see the bottom of the well again, after four decades. He added that experts invited by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) have recently assessed the condition of the well. However, he acknowledged, the experts believe that it would be challenging to fully restore it to its original state
According to Tang, the well required the cleanup because 40 years ago workers from a nearby construction site illegally dumped a huge amount of construction waste into it. In the first and second phase of the cleanup, a total of 600 lorryloads of construction waste were removed from the well.
Tang also said that the Chi Lam Vai Concern Group was planning to visit the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) to present specific suggestions from the historic neighbourhood residents about the revitalisation of the well. These proposals include improvements in lighting, aesthetic enhancements, and potential future cultural and creative uses, aiming to promote the display and preservation of the community’s historical and cultural heritage, Tang said.
Pátio do Espinho – Chi Lam Vai (茨林圍) in Cantonese – is a 400-year-old, formerly walled village that lies just a street away from the UNESCO World Heritage-protected Na Tcha Temple, one of Macau’s two temples dedicated to the divinity known in Putonghua as Nezha. It is also close to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ruins of St Paul’s.
According to Tang, the Cultural Affairs Bureau assembled a team of experts to conduct an in-depth study of the well’s structure on December 12 ,2022, confirming that its history dates back approximately 400 years and is closely linked to the development of the village.
A part of “Fist of Fury” (精武門), the 1972 film featuring San Francisco-born Hong Kong martial artist, actor and filmmaker Bruce Lee (李小龍; 1940-1973), was shot in Chi Lam Vai.
Chi Lam Village includes a café, renowned for its freshly baked marble cake, and souvenir shop dedicated to Na Tcha run by Tang, as well as a Thai restaurant. Both are popular with locals and tourists alike.
This photo taken yesterday shows barriers erected to prevent members of the public from entering the area for the cleanup and restoration project of the ancient well in Chi Lam Vai, a old village near a UNESCO World Heritage-protected Na Tcha Temple.
Chi Lam Vai villager and Na Tcha Temple Association Vice-President Tang Kam Chun points at the ancient well in Chi Lam Vai during a visit by the Post yesterday afternoon. – Photos: Armindo Neves
